-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara , the internationally recognized president of Ivory Coast , attacked the residence of disputed incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and took control of state-run TV early Friday morning , a spokesman for Ouattara told CNN .

Gbagbo 's residence is near the state-run television station taken over by Ouattara forces in the early morning hours Friday , said Patrick Achi , the Ouattara spokesman . Gbagbo apparently was not there .

The takeover occured less than three hours after a Gbagbo spokesman appeared on the same network declaring that Gbagbo had no intention of leaving the presidential palace , according to a witness who saw the broadcast . The presidential palace is not Gbagbo 's personal residence and is located elsewhere .

Gbagbo has refused to cede power after a disputed November election .

The takeover of the government network , which had previously been accused of inciting violence against protesters opposed to the Gbagbo government , came as Ivory Coast 's internal war appeared to enter a decisive and final phase , with forces loyal to Ouattara making a final push to oust a defiant Gbagbo .

Ouattara on Thursday declared a curfew in Abidjan as forces loyal to him moved closer to taking control of the city . The curfew , Ouattara said , will remain in effect until Sunday . Also Thursday , Ouattara 's interior minister announced on radio that the air and sea borders of the country would be sealed until further notice .

The curfew , however , did not seem to be universally recognized as Abidjan residents reported hearing sounds of heavy gunfire Thursday night .

`` It seemed there was a battle going on , '' said Diallo Ibrahim , adding that the `` heavy gunfire '' appeared to subside by midnight Thursday .

Ibrahim , an accountant , said he watched the Gbagbo spokesman appear on TV and declared that Gbagbo would not leave the presidential palace . After the announcement , however , the station went dark , Ibrahim said .

Ouattara 's spokesman , Patrick Achi , told CNN earlier Thursday that rebel forces were patrolling some streets of Abidjan and were fast closing in on Gbagbo .

It will be only `` hours , maybe days '' before Gbagbo falls , Achi said . `` The army does not want to fight for Laurent Gbagbo . ''

Residents in Abidjan told CNN that people were frightened at the prospect of an all-out war and were huddled in their homes Thursday . At sunset , they could still hear the sound of gunfire outside . Smoke could be seen in some parts of the city .

`` We can tell the fighting has gone to another level , '' said one resident who did not want to be named because of security reasons . `` We are watching to see what will happen next . ''

Humanitarian agencies warned Abidjan is on the brink of catastrophe .

`` The international community must take immediate steps to protect the civilian population , '' said Salvatore Sagues , Amnesty International 's researcher on West Africa .

Choi Young-jin , head of the United Nations ' mission in Ivory Coast , said on France Info radio that U.N. peacekeepers have taken the place of army and police who abandoned Gbagbo on Thursday .

Choi said that the siege laid on the Abidjan hotel where Ouattara was confined has been lifted .

Ouattara was recognized as the winner of a November presidential election but had been holed up in the U.N.-protected Golf Hotel since then as the political stalemate led to escalating violence and turmoil .

Meanwhile , Gbagbo 's army chief , Gen. Philippe Mangou , asked for asylum at the residence of the South African ambassador , the South African government said Thursday . Achi said it was a sign that the armed forces now stand fully behind Ouattara .

Republican Forces wrested control of much of the capital , Yamoussoukro , and other key cocoa-producing and port cities earlier in the week before marching to Abidjan , the commercial center of Ivory Coast .

Ouattara issued a statement saying that despite numerous attempts to end the violence , Gbagbo had refused . He said Ivory Coast is now at a turning point in its history and called for unity .

`` In order to end the escalating violence in our country , the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast have started to put in place , in accordance with their missions , the protection of people and their property against the militia men and mercenaries paid by Laurent Gbagbo , '' Ouattara said .

`` They have decided to restore democracy and to respect the vote of the people , '' he said . `` In every city where they went , they were greeted in jubilation . ''

Human rights agencies have documented the deaths of 462 people -- some in heinous fashion -- and the displacement of more than 1 million from their homes .

Many residents in Abidjan fear Gbagbo will not go down easily .

Koffi Kouakou , a citizen of Ivory Coast who now lives in South Africa , said his family members were stocking up on food and waiting for the battle they feel is inevitable .

`` Everybody is calling it the battle of Abidjan , '' said Kouakou . `` There will be a battle and people will be killed , unfortunately . Nobody knows when it is going to happen but it will happen soon . ''

Concerned about the rising tide of violence , the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday to impose sanctions on Gbagbo , his wife and three associates , as well as give U.N. peacekeepers more authority to protect civilians .

The U.N. resolution demands that Gbagbo step down immediately and that all state institutions , including the military , accept Ouattara as president . It also authorizes U.N. peacekeepers `` to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate to protect civilians under imminent threat of violence . ''

The resolution imposes targeted sanctions and travel bans on Gbagbo , his wife , Simone , and three others : Desire Tagro , Pascal Affi N'Guessan and Alcide Djedje .

The resolution accuses all five of `` obstruction to the peace and reconciliation process '' and of rejecting the legitimate election of Ouattara . All but Laurent Gbagbo are accused of `` public incitement to hatred and violence . ''

CNN 's Christabelle Fombu , Moni Basu and Pierre Meilhan contributed to this report .

@highlight

NEW : Ouattara forces attack Gbagbo residence , spokesman says

@highlight

Ouattara forces take control of state TV , spokesman says

@highlight

Gbagbo spokesman on state TV says incumbent is n't leaving

@highlight

Frightened Abidjan residents stay indoors and can hear gunfire outside